About 21 years ago my Dad had his first heart attack and was
very ill, so I had convinced myself that his passing was not
far off. Thanking God still I had an additonal 21 years with him,
sadly 21 very painful and ill years for him. He had 5 additional
heart attacks, severe lung (copd) issues and very bad diabetes.

I was working third shift at the time of his first heart attack and
drew this on the back of a work order form and planned to get
if when he passed. It's just what I felt at the time except for
the leaves on the rose stem and the nick in the blade edge.

The leaves on the stem are 4 and 1/2 leaves...
One full leaf for my Dad, one for my Mom, one for my Brother
and one for myself........the 1/2 leaf is for my sister that died
at a very young age before Iwas born and I never knew or
met her. So the leaf is half hidden behind the blade for that reason.
The nick in blade is shaped like an "M" for the first letter of our
last name.

Like I say, the rest is just what I felt like drawing that evening.
But...... while talking with the tattoo artist Monday about why
I drew it etc... he mentioned Karma being a strong thing and
proceeded to tell me some meaning of the tattoo I had drawn.
I guess everything means things in the "tattoo world".

The dagger itself being a representation of a constant companion...
daggers in early days were kept close
physically and considered ones best companion.
A rose in itself for love
The black rose bud for a life gone from existance or in
remembrance
The dagger entwined by a rose to have meaning of harsh
reality of something
The skull being the reminder that NONE of us can escape
our mortality.

He passed away 2 years ago March and hadn't had the extra
money for the tattoo, so wife got it for me as a B-Day gift. An
odd bit of info that the tattoo artist mentioned while doing the
work and talking about it all. Doesn't mean anything, at least I
don't think so.. is.....
I was 21 when I drew it originally and exactly 21 years later I
am getting it done.